If you’re a re-tread former head coach looking for work in the NHL, today was a bleak day for your job prospects as two teams officially filled positions today and did so by bringing guys up from their AHL farm teams.

In Dallas, the Stars officially named Glen Gulutzan the 21st head coach in team history. Gulutzan had been coach of the Texas Stars in the AHL and brought them to the Calder Cup finals back in 2010, a series they eventually lost to the Hershey Bears. Gulutzan’s record in his short coaching history is solid (87-56-17 in two seasons in Texas) and with the Stars relying more on the players within their own organization to fill out ranks it helps provide a seamless transition to the NHL for them.

Think of players like Jamie Benn and Tomas Vincour who will look to either get bigger roles (certainly the case with Benn) or more playing time and opportunity to grow at the NHL level. That kind of growth and commitment to sticking within the system has paid off with other teams as Five For Fighting makes note of.

It’s Mike Yeo in Minnesota or Guy Boucher in Tampa or Scott Arniel in Columbus. Dan Bylsma did it in Pittsburgh and won a Cup. Bruce Boudreau did it in Washington and got to the Finals. NHL coaches like starting with someone new. That said, they don’t want too new. They want a head coach who knows how to run a bench and run a team. There is a certain feeling that you can’t just walk in and become a head coach at the NHL level, and that’s why Kirk Muller might not get a head coaching job until he takes a job as an AHL head coach.

Interesting thoughts and given the success Guy Boucher had in Tampa Bay this year, it’s a trend we’re likely to see continue. Case in point: Minnesota.

The Wild officially named Mike Yeo their new head coach today as well. Yeo coached their farm team in Houston last season and did very well bringing the Aeros to the Calder Cup finals, a series they ultimately lost to Binghamton. Yeo is more famous for being an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins during their Stanley Cup appearances in 2008 and 2009 alongside Dan Bylsma. That experience at the NHL level coupled with the tremendous success he had in the AHL this past season with an Aeros team that wasn’t exactly teeming over with great talent speaks volumes to how smart of a guy he is.

The Aeros played a structured, physical, forechecking, defensively sound style and had immense success despite a lack of offensive firepower.

“He really, really knows how to coach his players,” said 2007 first-round draft pick Colton Gillies. “It’s all about the process with him, the little things that require you to win games. He prepares you so, so well. I’m just really happy for him. I think he deserves it. He’s done wonders for my career already.”

Gillies is one of the first round picks the Wild have made over the years that hasn’t panned out of yet. If Yeo can help turn guys like him and the others in the Wild system that haven’t emerged as potential NHL players, he’s a godsend for Minnesota. Having a coach that can turn the mess that former GM Doug Risebrough made of the Wild organization into something that can win at the NHL level would make Mike Yeo Minnesota’s version of a miracle worker.

Making the jump from the AHL to the NHL is a huge step and for both Gulutzan and Yeo they’ll need to do twice as much work as they did in the minor leagues to make it work out in the majors. Guys like Guy Boucher made it look easy but you can’t forget guys like Scott Arniel who struggled with their teams in transition.